Thursday, December 11, 2008

ACC Bloggers' 2008 Football Awards

I solicited ballots from as many ACC bloggers as I could think of to come up with our own awards for the 2008 football season. Ten blogs submitted ballots, representing eight of the 12 schools in the ACC. A big "thank you" goes out to everyone who participated, I think it was a decent turn out for it being the first time we've done this. Hopefully we can get a lot more people involved in future votes.

Jonathan Dwyer, RB, Georgia Tech: Dwyer was a unanimous selection for Offensive POY, collecting all 10 first-place votes cast. He thrived in Paul Johnson's option offense, leading the ACC in rushing yards with 1,328. He was No. 2 in the conference in rushing touchdowns with 12.

ACC Defensive Player of the Year

Macho Harris, CB, Virginia Tech: In our closest vote, Harris claims the conference's Defensive POY by a single point over Florida State's Everette Brown. All of Harris' points came from the four first-place votes he received. He finished T3rd in the conference in interceptions with six, including two returned for touchdown.

ACC Offensive Rookie of the Year

Russell Wilson, QB, NC State: It wasn't unanimous, but Wilson ran away with the award. He finished with the highest passer rating in the conference and led the Pack to four wins to close out the season and secure a bowl bid.

ACC Defensive Rookie of the Year

Brandon Maye, LB, Clemson: Maye led all freshmen in tackles with 66, including 4.5 for loss. His best game came in his first as a Tiger when he recorded 12 tackles, six solo, against Alabama in the Georgia Dome.

ACC Coach of the Year

Paul Johnson, Georgia Tech: Another runaway winner, Johnson led the Yellow Jackets to nine wins in his first season on the sidelines in Atlanta. Not many expected Johnson's option offense to work this well this quickly against ACC opponents, however, the Jackets finished tied atop the Coastal and won at Georgia.